6/22, Sunday. Heading to Tronsen Ridge near Blewett Pass for flowers. Everyone I know who's into flowers ranks Tronsen Ridge as the premier spot in WA.
For reference, consult this plant list.
Drove to the south TH off Wilcox Horse Camp. On the way, saw Tweedy's lewisia and yellow columbine. Stopped the car to take pictures. I was very happy to spot some tweedies, because I thought we were too late to see them this year.
Made a brief stop at Harney Meadow, opposite of Wilcox Camp.
Oddly large, green in this dry landscape surrounded by burnt trees, thanks to Naneum Creek.
A lot of Yellow Penstemon.
There's a group from Native Plant Society, who parked here.
We continued about 0.8 mile further, parked at the road bend.
Still had a bit of water, and a lot of Jacob's Ladder here.
Started hiking along a dusty burnt road/trail. Heard wookpeckers.
Endless dead trees, a lot of flowers underneath. No morrels.
The trail has a spur going up to point 5575, where we met the WNPS group.
They were already turning back.
It's almost a sand dune here, topped with some rock formation. Good view of the Stuart Range.
Back on trail, we continued north along the ridge, slowly lossing elevation.
Saw a lot of blue clemantis.
The next baldy ridge is the best, covered with bitterroot, buckwheat, and paintbrush, scarlet gilia.
Some silenes (catchfly) too.
Many penstemons, but not sure if we saw Chelan Penstemon.
As we continued north, more and more trees.
Saw balsamroot, white colored lupine and pink ones, wall flower, death camas, a lot of mariposa lily, some Geum Triflorum (first time I see them in WA).
More Tweedies.
At some point, the entire forest floor is covered by mariposa lily. It's delightful.
We scrambled up a short bluff for lunch.
Found these large pea pods of Whitney's milkvetch. No flowers.
Saw a single guy going north on the ridge below us. I suspect him to be the outlaw.
There is a sign of the man hunt at the trailhead.
We turned around.
A relaxed day. On our drive out, going too fast on this rugged road (about 9-10 miles). A tire was slit open. Took some time putting on the spare tire. A few rain drops.